Former principal Poots facing 15 fraud charges in the New Year

FORMER Dromara Primary School principal Stanley Poots will appear in court in the New Year charged with 15 fraud offences dating back as far as April 26, 2006.

The 67-year-old was remanded on continuing bail after his first court appearance in Lisburn Magistrates’ Court last Thursday December 22. Mr Poots, who retired in June after more than 40 years in education, was awarded an MBE earlier this year.

Mr Poots, of Hillsborough Road Dromara, is charged with five counts of fraud by false representation, two counts of fraud by abuse of position, seven counts of making or supplying articles for use in fraud, and one count of possession of articles for use in fraud.

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The charges include making 90 fraudulent cheques, dishonestly abusing his position to obtain money from an EMU (Education for Mutual Understanding) account, designing or adapting letters sent to parents regarding a school trip for use in fraud and dishonestly making nine foreign currency withdrawals to make personal gain or cause loss to Dromara PS and St Michael’s PS Finnis.

The defendant will appear again at Lisburn Magistrates Court on March 15.